GOP needs to focus on immigration solutions, not impeding reform

Jesus Rodriguez, center, and his wife Berta Salazar look over a problem with his documents while seeking help from Norma Canales Gomez, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, at the Mexican Consulate office in McAllen, Texas. Mexican citizens living in the United States continued preparing their paperwork for deferment from deportation Tuesday despite a U.S. Federal Court decision to temporarily block President Obama’s executive action on immigration. (AP Photo/The Monitor, Nathan Lambrecht)

When it comes to immigration, it appears that Republicans would rather rule by distraction, rather than work on real immigration solutions.

Exhibit A: The federal court challenge to President Barack Obama’s executive order that would have granted relief from deportation to millions of unauthorized immigrants.

On Monday, a federal judge in Brownsville blocked the order in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of Republican-led states, led by Greg Abbott in his former role as attorney general. The decision is not surprising. But it is clear from this week’s reaction that rather than refocusing on the problem with the immigration system that all parties agree exist, Congressional and state leaders would rather crow about political points.

It seemed as though before Obama could even finish announcing details of his executive action in November, Republicans were already dashing to file legal opposition. Just the threat of Obama’s executive-action was enough to create yet another reason for Congress to justify delaying action.

The preferred legal action has resulting in the ruling by Brownsville federal Judge Andrew S. Hanen which prevents all applicable agencies from implementing any expansions to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The extended program, known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), aimed to protect from deportation about 4 million immigrants who are the parents of U.S. citizens and legal residents. It would also allow them to work legally in the country.

An additional million unauthorized immigrants also would have been shielded through other parts of the action. For tose who were concerned the action equaled amnesty, Obama insisted the program would not constitute a path to citizenship. The administration had scheduled to begin accepting applications for the expansion Wednesday.

Now, the Obama administration has put off the first step in implementing the program. The White House promised an appeal Tuesday.

The president’s executive action, which expires in two year, was always meant to be a temporary fix. Obama admitted that comprehensive immigration reform was best accomplished through Congress. He challenged House Republicans in particular to work together and instead, present a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

The challenge went on deaf ears.

Twenty-six Republican-led states chose to instead invest their energies in repeatedly confronting Obama and his executive action, rather than create solutions.

But the legal opposition could have a similar fate as an Arizona challenge. Last month, a U.S. District Court dismissed Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s constitutional challenge to Obama’s actions. In that case, the court ruled against Arizona in part because “the role of the judiciary is to resolve cases and controversies properly brought by parties with a concrete and particularized injury — not to engage in policymaking better left to the political branches.”

Here in Texas, Hanen didn’t decide on the constitutional issues raised by the case, but issued the injunction on grounds that the administration didn’t follow correct administrative procedures.

As in the Arizona, the 26-state case is political, not constitutional.

Just as worrisome are the reactions from Texas state leaders.

“Judge Hanen’s decision rightly stops the President’s overreach in its tracks,” said Abbott on Monday night.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas , also praised Hanen’s ruling saying, “Today’s victory is an important one, but the fight to reverse the president’s unconstitutional overreach is not over.”

No calls for unity or invitations for immigration reform. Just more political chatter.

Meanwhile Latino and other immigrant families will continue to be torn apart. For just a few months, families with undocumented relatives felt some relief. They felt hope. Now, the uncertainty, the stress and the fears surely will resurface.

We don’t need to remind state and federal lawmakers, with a fast-approaching primary election, it is the growing Latino electorate that may need plenty of wooing. Stalling change does not make for a happy electorate.

Polls have shown time and time again that the majority of voters support immigration reform. The disagreement lies in how it should work. To further influence reform, state-level lawmakers must pressure their congressional delegations to negotiate meaningful reform.

Republicans still have a unique opportunity to compete for this growing electorate. It comes in shape of real immigration reform.

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